62 
That the high standard already obtained by these boats 
has not been the result of scientific investigation, or the 
theoretical application* of any known principles of equi- 
librium, does not render the method less scientific, for the 
base of all science is observation and experiment, and these 
boats are the result of such a course of direct experiments 
and experimental observation as has not been expended on 
any other modern structure, nor is this method of arriving 
at the best form peculiar to lifeboats. 
With the exception of the large modern steamers and 
ironclads, the peculiar construction of boats of all sizes is the 
result of a prolonged process of trial and failure, and that, 
although certain general principles connecting the qualities 
of ships with their shapes have been discovered and recog- 
nised during the last thirty years, still, the recognition of 
these principles has not resulted in the suggestion of any 
considerable improvement to be effected in what were before 
high class vessels, such as yachts and fast sailing vessels, 
but rather have confirmed the form previously arrived at in 
these as the best, and led to their being copied in larger 
vessels. 
The discovery and recognition of principles has undoubt- 
edly been of immense service in improving the types of our 
large modern vessels. But this is mainly because with large 
ships there is not the same opportunity for trial and failure 
as with the small, the number is so much smaller, and 
experiments are so much slower and more costly ; but the 
main reason is, that the circumstances which call out the 
highest qualities of the large vessels become so extremely 
rare. There is no doubt that many large vessels pass 
through their lives without meeting weather which tests 
their sea-going qualities in the way in which those of a 
fishing boat are tested many times every winter. It was, 
therefore, an immense step in the way to study the resistance 
qualities of large ships, when the late Mr. Froude brought 
